Tick-a-tape explosion before Biffy Clyro come on stage
The fine weather made a huge difference of course, but it wasn't only lack of mud that made this year's Glastonbury festival sublime. If we add in all the millions of people who enjoyed the festival digitally as well as those actually there, I think the country (perhaps the world) needed Glastonbury to be extra special this year.
We are all so weary of shocking news, tragic news, and feelings of sadness, regret and anger, that a dose of undiluted joy, gaiety, love, hope and charity was never more needed by a body of humanity.
It is the integrity of the core product which endures. Glastonbury is above all a celebration of diversity and creativity in all its forms. So despite the inevitable commercialization, my impression was that that everyone - from the main stage performers to the first timers on the fringe, from the stage managers to the cleaners, from those residing in tent dormitories to those poshing it up in custom teepees - all had a really beautiful, dare I say, healing time. And we all squirreled away some happy memories for a rainy day.
I can only echo what Chrissie Hynde said as she left the Other Stage on Friday morning having opened the festival in great style: "Thank you (again) Michael and Emily Eavis!"
Open Mic performers in the Tee Pee Tent area
Rag 'n' Bone Man
Audience at the Holts watching the Jacksons & couple playing piano in the Healing field
Ed Sheeran
Nile Rogers & Chic make a lot of people happy on the Pyramid stage
Michael Eavis & Ruby Wax at Speakers Forum
The Pretenders on and off the Other Stage
Jeremy Corbyn with Billy Bragg behind him leaves the Left Field stage and an ecstatic audience
Lolo – Gitano Flamenco Astrolabe
Liam Gallagher on the Other Stage
Stormzy on the Other Stage
Foo Fighters on Pyramid Stage
The Lemon Twigs
Noel Gallagher at William’s Green, Ed Sheeren & his guitar, The RPM’s back stage Left Field.
Sacks of rubbish awaiting rubbish truck and sack of man awaiting consciousness
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